President’s message: Government of Ontario selects York University Markham Centre project to receive funding

York President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri shows off his Yes to York button

On Wednesday, May 20, York President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri issued the following announcement to the York University community:

I am delighted to let you know that the government of Ontario announced today its selection of the York University Markham Centre campus project to receive government funding through the province’s Major Capacity Expansion Policy Framework.

York University and our partners – York Region, the City of Markham and Seneca College – are thrilled that Premier Wynne and the Ontario government have recognized the strong merits of building a university campus in Markham Centre, an area of the province with a high-level demand for postsecondary education.

This new campus in Markham will not only meet the increasing demand for high-quality education and workplace-based learning opportunities by providing students with a wide range of degree programs, including joint programs with Seneca College, but it will also spur economic growth in one of the fastest-growing major urban areas in Ontario.

Today’s announcement acknowledges York University’s considerable strengths in supporting Ontario’s knowledge economy and its position as a global innovation leader. This new York University campus in York Region is a significant step forward in our strategy to forge stronger connections between the University, Seneca College, our public and private partners, and all municipalities in the region. It also solidifies York’s reputation as one of Canada’s leading multi-campus universities.

Working closely with the significant economic clusters already present in York Region, including information and communication technology, life sciences and health-care technologies, financial and insurance services, and clean technology, the new campus will provide students with professionally relevant academic programs and workplace-based learning opportunities while they study and excellent local job prospects when they graduate. A full suite of student services will be provided on-site to support the academic success of our students.

This state-of-the-art campus will be located in the city of Markham’s rapidly growing urban centre, providing easy access to transit, major employers, research hubs and the Markham Pan Am Centre. The academic collaboration with Seneca College will build on our existing relationship and provide new pathways for students that draw on the complementary strengths of each institution, supporting student mobility, and driving creativity and innovation in the region.

The University will now commence the detailed planning and implementation phases. The new campus will accommodate 4,000 students in the initial phase, after which implementation can be adjusted to meet enrolment demand in the province as part of a long-term strategy.

We look forward to continuing to work together with the province and our partners to bring a 21st century York University campus to the vibrant and growing Markham Centre. For more information, visit yestoyork.ca.

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